Residents of Edo State trooped to the streets on Wednesday morning in celebration of the victory of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s at the state’s Election Petition Tribunal, after the tribunal struck out the petition filed by General Charles Airhiavbere, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state to challenge the pronouncement of Oshiomhole as winner of the election.
It further affirmed Oshiomhole as winner of the election, saying the governor won two-third majority of the total votes cast and awarded the sum of N150,000 against Airhiavbere.
This pronouncement resulted in jubilation at the venue of the tribunal sitting, with many residents of the state the dancing and singing the governor’s praises. Some of the residents who attended the tribunal sitting made frantic calls to their friends and family members to inform them of the “good news.”
The PDP candidate had decided to fight his own battle after his party backed out of the decision to challenge the governor’s electoral victory at the tribunal.
In the judgment of the tribunal delivered by its Chairman, Justice Muazu Pindinga, Aoirhiavbere’s petition was declared lacking enough substance to warrant any judgement in his favour.
Noting that the petition merited dismissal, Pindiga said the petitioner failed to establish his evidence with any witnesses, as this would have bolstered his argument, which included electoral non-compliance and whatever other demands he had in the petition.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole has already reacted to the, describing it as not only a victory for him alone but also for the people of the state. He also expressed appreciation to all those who have stood by him since the beginning of the suit.
